Fire school bus drivers whose sick-out stranded kids?

A sick-out by school bus drivers that stranded some Palm Beach County students at bus stops on Monday had completely petered out by Tuesday.

The school district has had trouble hiring enough bus drivers, who complain of low pay and difficult working conditions..

An estimated 20-24 drivers called in sick Monday to protest pay. The district employs 620 bus drivers. One driver told The Post he still makes the same $11.73 an hour as when he started driving for the school district in 2007.

It’s against the law for bus drivers to strike. Complaining is allowed, of course, and several bus drivers attended a recent school board meeting to do just that.

The union that represents bus drivers is negotiating a new contract. But the union did not endorse Monday’s sick-out.

We understand the drivers’ frustration. The hours are challenging, and so are working conditions. Going so long without a raise, they probably feel that they have no leverage with the district unless they do something dramatic.

But that doesn’t excuse a sick-out that leaves children waiting at a bus stop. It clearly is a safety issue. We think bus drivers who put kids at risk in that manner should be fired. What do you think? Click on the link below to take our poll.